Since the introduction of acid etching to aid adhesion to enamel, there has been much research into dental materials to improve bond strength, but little into the surface topography of etched enamel, particularly regarding possible variations between tooth types. This study was a systematic investigation into the quality and quantity of etch patterns found on the buccal surfaces of different human permanent teeth. Twenty-nine orthodontic patients had high-resolution silicone impressions taken of the buccal surface of incisor, canine, premolar and molar, upper and lower teeth, following etching for 30s with 37% phosphoric acid. Impressions (n=266) were replicated in epoxy resin and examined under high magnification in a scanning electron microscope. A modification of the classification of Galil and Wright was used, with histometric techniques, to quantify the quality of etch patterns on enamel surfaces where orthodontic brackets are typically bonded. There was no difference between right and left or between upper and lower teeth of the same type (P>0.05). There was a general trend toward the increasing occurrence of no etch (type D) from anterior to posterior teeth, and a trend toward fewer good-quality etches (types A and B) in the same direction. Etch types A and B were found to occupy the smallest area on the etched buccal surface enamel. The greatest amount of type A etch 'ideal' was found on the lower incisors, yet it occupied less than 5% of the etched buccal surface enamel. The greatest area of etched enamel surface was occupied by type C (etched, but enamel prisms not evident). It was concluded that there is a significant difference in the acid-etch patterns achieved on different tooth types, which suggests that bond-strength studies should be performed with a single tooth type or that an equal number of different tooth types be included.